Merciful Law. Darby Sr. Rae

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СКАЧАТЬ it won’t happen again, right Dad,” Eli said very adult like, looking at his father. “But one time all the crickets got out.”

      “Out of the reptile room?”

      “No. We just got home with a box of one thousand crickets. Dad set it on the kitchen table. I was just looking at them and the box sort of fell on the floor. All the crickets started to hop out while Mary was trying to make lunch for us.”

      “Yeah,” Josh said shaking his head like a little man. “We lost another lady that day.”

      “What did you do about all the crickets?” I shuddered a bit.

      “Dad just sucked them up in the vacuum cleaner and we let them go in the reptile room. None of us were screaming.”

      “So besides dodging frogs and crickets, what do these ladies do for your dad?” I asked. Emmet gave me a sideways glance.

      “Well, some of them didn’t do much—just stared at dad a lot,” Josh offered honestly.

      Emmet seemed to choke a bit on his food.

      “I see, and what else?”

      “You have to laugh like this when you’re around Dad.” Josh threw his head back, flipped his hair a bit and let out a sorority girl cackle.

      “Joshua!” Emmet scolded.

      “They do,” Eli defended.

      “Well, you may have to help me with that Josh,” I said glancing at Emmet, noticing a hint of a smile. An attractive man like him was clearly used to female attention.

      “Dad says you have to be able to read his mind and finish his sentences too.”

      “Is that all?” I asked Josh.

      “No, if Dad has a party you have to walk around in a pretty dress and hug a lot of people.”

      “Do I ever get to do anything fun?”

      “Yeah!” Eli chimed in. “…you get to play with us…sometimes on Saturdays, or if Susan’s sick, or on vacation, or if Dad has to work really late or has to go out of town—or if you just want to any time…you can just…you know…play with us. We’re fun!”

      “That could be the best part of the job,” I said. “Is there anything I should be careful not to do?”

      “Don’t ask Dad about Mom,” Eli whispered as though Emmet couldn’t hear him.

      “Anything you don’t like to eat?” I asked, quickly trying to recover from the sudden discomfort.

      “Well, we’re not supposed to tell you if we don’t like something you cook, but we really don’t like tomatoes, spinach, and stuff that smells nasty.”

      “Yeah, nothing nasty,” Eli echoed.

      “Hmm. No nasty smelling stuff. That could be almost all of my cooking.”

      “That’s okay,” Josh offered, patting my hand. “Susan can help.”

      “Well thank you; and thank you too, Eli. You two have already been a huge help. I appreciate your honesty.”

      “If everyone’s finished eating, let’s clean up,” Emmet directed.

      “Annie, you sit. Would you like coffee? Susan made some before she left.”

      “Please.” I smiled.

      “I’ll get it!” Josh exclaimed.

      “Be sure to ask how she likes her coffee,” Emmet instructed.

      “How do you like your coffee?” Josh parroted deepening his voice.

      “Do you get coffee for your father, Josh?”

      “Yes.” He answered proudly in his normal voice.

      “Then make it the same way you do for him, please.” This wasn’t the time to get fussy about coffee. I watched as this little family buzzed around the kitchen rinsing plates and putting away leftovers. It seemed Emmet wanted to give me a few minutes to ponder my job offer. I wondered— what’s the catch? They appeared perfectly normal—well, except for the reptile room—I couldn’t imagine the job could be that difficult. Emmet was a bit stiff, but I could deal with that. After all, Lawrence wasn’t a bursting pool of affection. The kids were definitely spirited, but respectful and clearly interesting. It seemed that there was opportunity to spend more time with them if I wanted to, but it wasn’t required.

      “Alright boys, say goodbye to Annie and get ready for bed.”

      “When are you coming back, Annie?” Josh asked.

      “Annie and I will discuss that,” Emmet answered firmly. I gave the boys a wink and they seemed to leave the room satisfied.

      “Annie,” Emmet began, “the lion’s share of your work will be running the household. I work from home a couple days a week and the rest of the time I am at the office. I don’t need any assistance professionally. The only exception is if I entertain clients here. You and Amanda will collaborate on those efforts. Amanda is my assistant at the firm.” The firm, I thought. He may be an attorney too. No wonder he looked at me funny when I started to spew legal jargon. I needed to be cautious with my vocabulary.

      “At the house, as I mentioned, Susan handles most of the laundry, going to the grocery, and cooking while she is here. She is responsible for the boys except for Wednesday afternoons and on the weekend. You’ll prepare dinner Wednesday night and breakfast during the week. If I have to travel, I’d rather the two of you coordinate coverage. I prefer cooperation to a dictatorship here. Your job is to take care of the house and my personal affairs. With the house, you are in charge of the operations, per se. If something breaks, call and get it fixed. If someone quits like the maid or lawn service, replace them. I don’t enjoy micromanaging or giving constant instruction. When Josh said you have to read my mind and finish my sentences, he wasn’t far from the truth. If a decision has to be made, just make it.

      “Annie, just because the job isn’t difficult, doesn’t mean it isn’t important. I don’t have a problem with mistakes. I have no tolerance for stupidity or carelessness. Since you’ll be living here, you are welcome to join us for all meals, but you aren’t required to. Just inform Susan regarding dinner so she can set a place for you. On the weekend I’d like you to take care of Saturday breakfast and lunch now and then. Sunday you are completely off unless I am traveling.”

      “Lydia said she reviewed the pay with you. I don’t provide health insurance until you have been here for ninety days; I pay my staff at the house once a month; nobody is paid under the table and I don’t give out loans.

      “House rules, no men in your room. No overnight guests. No suggestive or immodest behavior. Be mindful that I am raising my children in this house. If you exhibit judgment that compromises my ability to raise responsible, well-adjusted children or you put them in harms way for any reason, you will be immediately terminated. As harsh as that sounds, realize you have a job to do. Certainly you have worked with parents who bore the same attitude toward your function within the family.

      “I СКАЧАТЬ